"Maybe this money will help. Maybe somebody out there saw it or was involved or knows who did it. Maybe this can help them start a life."

Lemon and his wife, Ginger, who is Murdaugh's daughter, pooled the money in part from the sale of the knitting shop and in part from his salary as a grocery store meat cutter and hers as a cashier in Pinedale, Ariz., he said.

Police are not disclosing the details of Murdaugh's death, but Lt. Ted Labahn said that "the autopsy definitely ruled that foul play was involved."

"There have been no developments," Labahn said.

"We're kind of hopeful that if we can loosen some lips, we'll get somewhere. We think the $10,000 will do that."

Murdaugh lived with a son in Santa Ana but often slept at her shop, police said.

Employees of nearby businesses became suspicious after seeing Murdaugh's car parked in front of her shop, its door locked during business hours, and the morning paper not brought in.

"We know she was loved, but we didn't know how much until we were there meeting all her clients," Mike Lemon said. "Everybody was so friendly and caring."

Police asked that anyone with information on the case contact Det. Guy Reneau at (714) 254-1971.